Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) is a four-year graduate entry program for students wishing to qualify as medical practitioners. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used; however, problem-based learning will be the predominant learning method in years one and two while years three and four will focus on learning as part of health teams in clinical sites.

In order to comply with Commonwealth Department of Health requirements for rural clinical placements, all students will need to complete at least 4 weeks of a dedicated rural attachment within their clinical years. For students attached to Geelong and Eastern Health Clinical Schools throughout year 3 and 4, this is most likely to occur within the GP rotation in HME401 or the Elective/ Selective/Pre-internship program in HME402. There will likely be a necessity for directed Selective placements in the event that the rural criteria is not met during the preceding placements. John Flynn Scholarship placements occurring outside of Deakin semester periods cannot fulfil these requirements.

Years 1 and 2

Students will be based at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) for the first two years. Problem-based learning seminars will be supplemented by classes, practical classes and clinical experience in clinical skills laboratories, hospitals and other health services in the Geelong region. Clinical experience will commence early in year one. At the end of year two clinical skills will be consolidated by a 'Transition to Clinical Practice' topic in preparation for years three and four.

Year 3

During year three most students will undergo intensive clinical training within health services attached to one of four Clinical Schools: three in Western Victoria - Greater Green Triangle Rural Clinical School (Warrnambool area), Grampians Rural Clinical School (Ballarat area), and Greater Geelong Regional Clinical School - and one in Melbourne - Eastern Health Clinical School (Box Hill). In each Clinical School clinical education will be coordinated through a series of six 7-week rotations in hospitals, health services and ambulatory settings including general practices.

A cohort of students will spend all of third year attached to a regional general practice where they will complete a parallel rural community curriculum through the Integrated Model of Medical Education in Rural Settings (IMMERSe). Students will cover the same material as those studying in hospital settings.

Year 4

Students will be based at public and private hospitals and general practices in Geelong, Warrnambool, Ballarat or Melbourne for four 5-week rotations. The course concludes with three 6-week terms: two ‘selectives’, a pre-internship hospital rotation and a further ambulatory rotation, and an ‘elective’ that can be taken in Australia or overseas.

On completion of the four-year BMBS, all Australian medical graduates are required to undertake one year of pre-registration training as interns at accredited hospitals.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited with the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Graduates who satisfactorily complete pre-registration training will qualify as Registered Medical Practitioners in Australia and New Zealand.

Note: This course is currently accredited as at the date of publishing.

Department of Human Services policy

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy*, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of clinical placements will not be able to undertake any placements.

Students are also required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of the course and will be asked to undergo serological testing prior to enrolment. All enrolled students are required to read, understand and comply with the School of Medicine Infectious Diseases and Immunisation Policy. Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience.